Dual sided reusable battery indicator

ABSTRACT

A reusable battery indicator comprises a voltage sensor configured to convert sensed analog characteristics of a battery to digital information; a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor; an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit; and a connection mechanism having at least a first connector and a second connector that are electrically connected to the voltage sensor, the first connector and the second connector being adapted to be removably connected to a first battery terminal and to a second battery terminal, respectively, thereby completing an electrical circuit between the voltage sensor and the first and second battery terminals when the connection mechanism is coupled to the first battery terminal and to the second battery terminal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure relates generally to battery indicators and, morespecifically, relates to a two sided reusable battery characteristicindicator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrochemical cells, or batteries, are commonly used as electricalenergy sources. A battery contains a negative electrode, typicallycalled the anode, and a positive electrode, typically called thecathode. The anode contains an electrochemically active anode materialthat can be oxidized. The cathode contains an electrochemically activecathode material that can be reduced. The electrochemically active anodematerial is capable of reducing the electrochemically active cathodematerial. A separator is disposed between the anode and the cathode. Thebattery components are disposed in a can, or housing, that is typicallymade from metal.

When a battery is used as an electrical energy source in an electronicdevice, electrical contact is made to the anode and the cathode, therebycompleting a circuit that allows electrons to flow through the device,and which results in respective oxidation and reduction reactions thatproduce electrical power to the electronic device. An electrolyte is incontact with the anode, the cathode, and the separator. The electrolytecontains ions that flow through the separator between the anode andcathode to maintain charge balance throughout the battery duringdischarge.

There is a growing need for portable power for electronic devices suchas toys; remote controls; audio devices; flashlights; digital camerasand peripheral photography equipment; electronic games; toothbrushes;radios; clocks, and other portable electronic devices. Consumers need tohave power readily available for these electronic devices. Becausebatteries necessarily become depleted of power over time as they areused, consumers need to have access to spare batteries (and/or access tofully recharged rechargeable batteries). It is helpful for a consumer toknow the power state of a battery currently in use so that the consumercan have quick access to the needed number of replacement batteries.Batteries come in common sizes, such as the AA, AAA, AAAA, C, and Dbattery sizes, that have fixed external dimensions and constrainedinternal volumes per ANSI standard.

Currently, some batteries include on-cell battery charge indicators tohelp a consumer determine when a battery is nearly depleted and in needof replacement. However, these current on-cell battery charge indicatorsare single use (i.e., attached to a single battery cell) and cumbersome(because typically two contact buttons must be simultaneously depressedto activate the indicator). Additionally, these on-cell batteryindicators require removal of the battery from an electronic device (orpackage) in order to use the indicator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to some aspects, a reusable battery indicator comprises avoltage sensor configured to convert sensed analog characteristics of abattery to digital information; a communication circuit communicativelyconnected to the voltage sensor; an antenna operatively coupled to thecommunication circuit; and a connection mechanism having at least afirst connector and a second connector that are electrically connectedto the voltage sensor. The first connector and the second connector areadapted to be removably connected to a first battery terminal and to asecond battery terminal, respectively, thereby completing an electricalcircuit between the voltage sensor and the first and second batteryterminals when the connection mechanism is coupled to the first batteryterminal and to the second battery terminal.

According to another aspect, a remote battery indication systemcomprises a battery; and a reusable battery indicator, the batteryindicator including a voltage sensor, a communication circuitcommunicatively connected to the voltage sensor, an antenna operativelycoupled to the communication circuit, and a connection mechanism havingat least a first connector and a second connector that are electricallyconnected to the voltage sensor. The first connector and the secondconnector are adapted to be removably connected to a first batteryterminal and to a second battery terminal, respectively, therebycompleting an electrical circuit between the voltage sensor and thefirst and second battery terminals when the connection mechanism iscoupled to the first battery terminal and to the second batteryterminal. The first connector and the second connector are electricallyattached to a first battery terminal and a second battery terminal,respectively, so that the voltage sensor senses an electricalcharacteristic of the battery.

In accordance with the teachings of the disclosure, any one or more ofthe foregoing aspects of a reusable battery indicator or a remotebattery indication system may further include any one or more of thefollowing optional forms.

In some optional forms a voltage booster may be electrically connectedto or incorporated in the voltage sensor.

In other preferred forms, at least one of the first connector and thesecond connector comprises at least one of a magnet, a cup, a sleeve, atab, a socket, a pin, a washer, a spring connector, or any combinationthereof.

In yet other preferred forms, at least one of the first connector andthe second connector comprises at least one metal and at least oneinsulator.

In yet other preferred forms, at least one of the first connector andthe second connector comprises at least one of a metal, a metal alloy,cold-rolled steel, carbon, or any combination thereof.

In yet other preferred forms, the communication circuit may comprise atleast one of radio-frequency identification circuitry, Bluetooth®circuitry, Bluetooth® low energy circuitry, Wi-Fi circuitry, Zigbee®circuitry, LORA circuitry, and Z-wave circuitry.

In yet other preferred forms, the voltage sensor is capable of readingan open circuit voltage of less than 1.8 Volts.

In yet other preferred forms, the voltage sensor, and the communicationcircuit are formed on a printed circuit board that is adapted to beinserted between the first connector and the second connector.

In yet other preferred forms, the first connector and the secondconnector may comprise flexible wires with conductive magnets.

In yet other preferred forms, the voltage sensor, and the communicationcircuit are mounted within a housing, and the housing is sized andshaped to fit between two cylindrical batteries that are arrangedlongitudinally side-by-side.

In yet other preferred forms, the housing has a cross-section that is inthe shape of a triangular prism.

In yet other preferred forms, the housing has one side that is concaveor two sides that are concave.

In yet other preferred forms, the voltage sensor is disc-shaped and thevoltage sensor is arranged to fit one end of a cylindrical battery cell.

In yet other preferred forms, the voltage sensor is one of a thin discBLE, UHF, or RF module.

In yet other preferred forms, a housing of the reusable batteryindicator is mounted within a battery receptacle of an electronicdevice.

In yet other preferred forms, a computing device is communicativelyconnected to the communication circuit, and the computing devicereceives information from the communication circuit through the antenna.

In yet other preferred forms, the computing device includes a processorand a memory, the memory storing a software routine that causes theprocessor to detect a wireless communication signal from the reusablebattery indicator, to remotely control battery circuitry through thereusable battery indicator to determine battery characteristic data; andto send the battery characteristic data to a user interface.

In yet other preferred forms, the battery characteristic data comprisesat least one of an electrical capacity, a voltage, an impedance, atemperature, a current, an age, a charge/discharge cycle count, and acoulomb count.

In yet other preferred forms, the software routine, when executed by theprocessor, causes the processor to determine at least one of a batterytype, a physical location of the battery, and an electrical device thatthe battery is powering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing outand distinctly claiming the subject matter, which is regarded as formingthe present invention, the invention will be better understood from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a battery cell and a reusable batteryindicator constructed in accordance with the teachings of thedisclosure, the battery cell and the reusable battery indicator beingseparated from one another.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the reusable battery indicator of FIG. 1connected to the battery cell.

FIG. 3 is a close-up plan view of a printed circuit board of thereusable battery indicator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an electronic circuit schematic diagram of the reusablebattery indicator of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of asecond embodiment of a reusable battery indicator that is connected to abattery cell.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a third embodiment of a reusablebattery indicator that is connected to a battery cell.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of afourth embodiment of a reusable battery indicator that is connected to abattery cell.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of afifth embodiment of a reusable battery indicator that is connected to abattery cell.

FIG. 9 is a close-up cross-sectional view of a negative radial leaf atone end of the reusable battery indicator of FIGS. 8A and 8B.

FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of a battery compartment of anelectronic device including two battery cells and a sixth embodiment ofa reusable battery indicator that is connected to one of the batterycells.

FIG. 11 is an end view of a seventh embodiment of a reusable batteryindicator that is attached to one cell of a pair of battery cells.

FIG. 12 is a diagram of a eighth embodiment of a reusable batteryindicator that is located between two adjacent battery cells.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a battery indication system includingthe reusable battery indicator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 14A is a perspective view of a ninth embodiment reusable batteryindicator and a battery cell.

FIG. 14B is side cross-sectional view of the reusable battery indicatorand battery cell of FIG. 14A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Electrochemical cells, or batteries, may be primary or secondary.Primary batteries are meant to be discharged, e.g., to exhaustion, onlyonce and then discarded. Primary batteries (or disposable batteries) aredescribed, for example, in David Linden, Handbook of Batteries (4^(th)ed. 2011). Secondary batteries (or rechargeable batteries) are intendedto be recharged and used over and over again. Secondary batteries may bedischarged and recharged many times, e.g., more than fifty times, ahundred times, or more. Secondary batteries are described, for example,in David Linden, Handbook of Batteries (4^(th) ed. 2011). Accordingly,batteries may include various electrochemical couples and electrolytecombinations. Although the description and examples provided herein aregenerally directed towards primary alkaline electrochemical cells, orbatteries, it should be appreciated that the invention applies to bothprimary and secondary batteries of aqueous, nonaqueous, ionic liquid,and solid state systems. Primary and secondary batteries of theaforementioned systems are thus within the scope of this application andthe invention is not limited to any particular embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a primary alkaline electrochemical cell, orbattery cell 10, is illustrated that includes a cathode 12, an anode 14,and a housing 18. The battery cell 10 also includes an end cap 24. Theend cap 24 serves as a negative terminal of the battery cell 10. Apositive pip 26 is located at the opposite end of the battery cell 10from the end cap 24. The positive pip 26 serves as a positive terminalof the battery cell 10. An electrolytic solution is dispersed throughoutthe battery cell 10. The battery cell 10 can be, for example, a AA, AAA,AAAA, C, or D alkaline battery. Additionally, in other embodiments, thebattery cell 10 can be a 9V battery, a camera battery, a watch battery,or any other type of primary or secondary battery.

The housing 18 can be made of any suitable type of housing basematerial, for example cold-rolled steel or nickel-plated cold-rolledsteel. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the housing 18 may havea cylindrical shape. In other embodiments, the housing 18 may have anyother suitable, non-cylindrical shape. The housing 18, for example, mayhave a shape comprising at least two parallel plates, such as arectangular, square, or prismatic shape. The housing 18 may be, forexample, deep-drawn from a sheet of the base material, such ascold-rolled steel or nickel-plated steel. The housing 18 may be, forexample, drawn into a cylindrical shape. The housing 18 may have asidewall. The interior surface of the sidewall of the housing 18 may betreated with a material that provides a low electrical-contactresistance between the interior surface of the sidewall of the housing18 and an electrode, such as the cathode 12. The interior surface of thesidewall of the housing 18 may be plated, e.g., with nickel, cobalt,and/or painted with a carbon-loaded paint to decrease contact resistancebetween, for example, the internal surface of the sidewall of thehousing 18 and the cathode 12.

Next to the battery cell 10 is one embodiment of a communicationmechanism, such as a reusable battery indicator 40. The reusable batteryindicator 40 includes an integrated circuit, which may be incorporatedinto a printed circuit board (PCB) 42, a first connector 44 that iselectrically connected to the PCB 42, and a second connector 46 that iselectrically connected to the PCB 42. The first connector 44 may beremovably and electrically connected to the positive pip 26 to form apositive electrical connection and the second connector 46 may beremovably and electrically connected to the end cap 24 to form anegative electrical connection, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The firstconnector 44 and the second connector 46 may take virtually any physicalform that allows the first connector 44 and the second connector 46 toform electrical connections with the battery cell 10 and the PCB 42. Insome embodiments, the first connector 44 and the second connector 46 maytake any one or more of the following forms, a magnet, a cup, a sleeve,a tab, a socket, a pin, a washer, a spring connector, a wire loop, orany combination thereof. Moreover, the first connector 44 and the secondconnector 46 may be formed from virtually any material that transmitsanalog information, such as electrical information, from the batterycell to the PCB 42. For example, in some embodiments, the firstconnector 44 and the second connector 46 may be formed from one or moreof the following materials, a metal, a metal alloy, cold-rolled steel,hard drawn ferrous and non-ferrous alloys, high and low carbon steelalloys, post or pre-plated ferrous and non-ferrous alloys, or anycombination thereof. In some embodiments, at least one of the firstconnector 44 and the second connector 46 may comprise a metal and aninsulator. More specifically, an inner surface of the first and secondconnectors 44, 46 may include a non-conductive coating (such as apolymer layer, epoxy, or passivate) or an additional insulator ring(e.g., paper, phenolic, or polymer) in areas other than contact areasfor the terminals to guard against shorting to the battery housing orcrimp.

Generally, the integrated circuit receives electrical information, suchas amperes or volts from the first connector 44 and from the secondconnector 46, and the electrical information is used by the integratedcircuit to calculate battery characteristic information, such as poweror charge level, and the integrated circuit then transmits the batterycharacteristic information to a receiver, such as a computer, a smartphone, or a personal digital assistant, for use by the consumer. In thisway, the reusable battery indicator 40 allows a consumer to acquire thebattery characteristic information without removing the battery cellfrom an electronic device (or from a package). The first connector 44and the second connector 46 deliver the electrical information to theintegrated circuit without interfering with electrical contacts betweenthe battery cell and the electronic device. Furthermore, the reusablebattery indicator 40 is movable from one battery cell to another batterycell so as to be reused over and over again, thereby reducing theoverall cost to a consumer.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, formed on the PCB 42 is an integratedcircuit 48, that includes an embedded voltage sensor 50 within theintegrated circuit 48 that is communicatively connected to the firstconnector 44 and to the second connector 46. The embedded voltage sensor50 senses analog characteristics of the battery cell, such as amperesand voltage and converts the sensed analog characteristics to digitalinformation. The PCB 42 also includes a communication circuit 52. Anantenna 54 is operatively coupled to the communication circuit 52. Thecommunication circuit 52 may comprise one or more of a radio-frequencyidentification circuit, a Bluetooth® circuit, a Bluetooth® low energycircuit, a Wi-Fi circuit, a Zigbee® circuit, a LORA circuit, and aZ-wave circuit. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit, such as awireless Bluetooth Low-Energy voltage sensor, may incorporate the analogto digital converter, a microcontroller, a Bluetooth radio, a memorydevice, and a DC/DC voltage converter.

A voltage booster 56 is electrically connected to the integrated circuit48 and the embedded voltage sensor 50. The embedded voltage sensor 50and the voltage booster 56 are capable of reading the open circuitvoltage of the battery that may be, for example, less than 1.8 volts. Insome embodiments, the communication circuit 52 may comprise one or moreof a thin disc BLE module, a UHF module, or a RF module.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the integrated circuit48, the voltage sensor 50, and the communication circuit 52 are allformed on the PCB 42, which is connected to the first connector 44 andthe second connector 46. However, in other embodiments, the integratedcircuit 48, the voltage sensor 50, and the communication circuit 52 maybe formed as separate components that are communicatively andoperatively connected to one another.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, similar elements arenumbered exactly 100 greater than elements numbered in FIGS. 1-4. Forexample, the battery cell is numbered 10 in FIGS. 1-4 and the batterycell is numbered 110 in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Unless stated otherwise, anyelement from any illustrated embodiment may be incorporated into anyother illustrated embodiment.

Turning now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, a second embodiment of the reusablebattery indicator 140 is attached to a battery cell 110. The reusablebattery indicator 140 includes a PCB 142, a first connector 144, and asecond connector 146. While the battery cell 110 in FIGS. 5A and 5B isillustrated as a AA size battery, the illustration is not intended tolimit the reusable battery indicator 140 to the illustrated battery cell110. Rather, the reusable battery indicator 140 may be sized and shapedto fit virtually any battery cell, especially those battery cell sizeslisted elsewhere in the specification.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first connector144 and the second connector 146 comprise flexible wires 160, 162,respectively. The flexible wires 160, 162 may be formed as spring wires(from hard drawn ferrous and non-ferrous spring alloys) that capture thepositive battery terminal 126 and the negative battery terminal 124,respectively, to transmit electrical characteristics, such as voltageand amperes, to the integrated circuit formed on the PCB 142. In theillustrated embodiment, the flexible wires 160, 162 are formed of ASTMA228 music wire with pre or post nickel plating to enhance conductivity,to reduce contact resistance, and to provide corrosion resistance.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the flexible wire 160includes a first end 166, which is connected to a positive terminal 168on the PCB 142 and a second end 170, which is also connected to thepositive terminal 168 on the PCB 142. The flexible wire 160 includes afirst leg 172, extending from the first end 166 and a second leg 174extending from the second end 170. The first leg 172 and the second leg174 are oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis A of thebattery cell 110. The first leg 172 and the second leg 174 are connectedto one another at an end loop 176. The end loop 176 lies in a plane thatis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the batterycell 110. The end loop 176 is sized and shaped to fit around thepositive terminal 126 of the battery cell 110. As a result, the flexiblewire 160 forms a positive electrical pathway from the positive batteryterminal 126 to the positive terminal 168 on the PCB 142. Moreover, theflexible wire 160 may be formed to produce a spring force that biasesthe flexible wire 160 into the attached position illustrated in FIGS. 5Aand 5B, while allowing the flexible wire 160 to be temporarily deformedby a user to remove the reusable battery indicator 140 from the batterycell 110 when desired.

Similar to the flexible wire 160, the flexible wire 162 includes a firstend 178, which is connected to a negative terminal 180 on the PCB 142and a second end 182, which is also connected to the negative terminal180 on the PCB 142. The flexible wire 162 includes a first leg 184,extending from the first end 178 and a second leg 186 extending from thesecond end 182. The first leg 184 and the second leg 186 are orientedsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the battery cell110. The first leg 184 and the second leg 186 are connected to oneanother at an end loop 188. The end loop 188 lies in a plane that issubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the battery cell110. The end loop 186 is sized and shaped to fit around the negativeterminal 124 of the battery cell 110. As a result, the flexible wire 162forms a negative electrical pathway from the negative battery terminal124 to the negative terminal 180 on the PCB 142. Moreover, the flexiblewire 162 may be formed to produce a spring force that biases theflexible wire 162 into the attached position illustrated in FIGS. 5A and5B, while allowing the flexible wire 162 to be temporarily deformed by auser to remove the reusable battery indicator 140 from the battery cell110 when desired.

The approximately 90° bends between the first and second legs 172, 174of the first flexible wire 160 and the end loop 176 and between thefirst and second legs 184, 186 of the second flexible wire 162 and theend loop 188, create an axial force, which maintains the reusablebattery indicator 140 in electrical connection with the battery cell110. In other embodiments, the bends may be more than 90° to mate to atapered positive terminal.

In some embodiments, one or more of the first flexible wire 160 and thesecond flexible wire 162 may include a conductive magnet, or the one ormore of the first flexible wire 160 and the second flexible wire 162 maybe formed from conductive magnetic material, to provide additionalretention force between the first flexible wire 160 and the positiveterminal 126 and between the second flexible wire 162 and the negativeterminal 124.

In other embodiments, one or more of the first flexible wire 160 and thesecond flexible wire 162 may be formed as a Kelvin connection, includingseparate power and sensing terminals, to measure impedance.Additionally, in alternate embodiments, the first flexible wire 160 andthe second flexible wire 162 need not be formed as a single continuouswire, but may be formed as multiple wire pieces, for example, two wirepieces that are separated by a small distance in the end loop.

As in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in the embodiment of FIG. 6, similar elements arenumbered exactly 100 greater than elements numbered in FIGS. 1-4. Forexample, the battery cell is numbered 10 in FIGS. 1-4 and the batterycell is numbered 110 in FIG. 6. Unless stated otherwise, any elementfrom any illustrated embodiment may be incorporated into any otherillustrated embodiment.

Turning now to FIG. 6, a third embodiment of the reusable batteryindicator 140 is attached to a battery cell 110. The reusable batteryindicator 140 includes a PCB 142, a first connector 144, and a secondconnector 146. While the battery cell 110 in FIG. 6 is illustrated as aAA size battery, the illustration is not intended to limit the reusablebattery indicator 140 to the illustrated battery cell 110. Rather, thereusable battery indicator 140 may be sized and shaped to fit virtuallyany battery cell, especially those battery cell sizes listed elsewherein the specification.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the first connector 144 and thesecond connector 146 comprise flexible wires 160, 162, respectively. Theflexible wires 160, 162 may be formed as spring wires that capture thepositive battery terminal 126 and the negative battery terminal 124,respectively, to transmit electrical characteristics, such as voltageand amperes, to the integrated circuit formed on the PCB 142.

The flexible wires 160, 162 in FIG. 6 are similar to the flexible wiresof FIGS. 5A and 5B, except that the flexible wires 160, 162 in FIG. 6have only a single leg. More specifically, the flexible wire 160includes a first end 166, which is connected to a positive terminal 168on the PCB 142. The flexible wire 160 includes a single leg 172,extending from the first end 166. The single leg 172 is orientedsubstantially parallel to a longitudinal axis A of the battery cell 110.The single leg 172 forms an end loop 176 at a second end. The end loop176 lies in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the battery cell 110. The end loop also lies belowthe plane of the contact surface of the positive terminal 126. In thismanner, the end loop 176 does not interfere with an electronic devicemaking contact with the positive terminal 126. The end loop 176 is sizedand shaped to fit around the positive terminal 126 of the battery cell110. As a result, the flexible wire 160 forms a positive electricalpathway from the positive battery terminal 126 to the positive terminal168 on the PCB 142. Moreover, the flexible wire 160 may be formed toproduce a spring force that biases the flexible wire 160 into theattached position illustrated in FIG. 6, while allowing the flexiblewire 160 to be temporarily deformed by a user to remove the reusablebattery indicator 140 from the battery cell 110 when desired.

Similar to the flexible wire 160, the flexible wire 162 includes a firstend 178, which is connected to a negative terminal 180 on the PCB 142.The flexible wire 162 includes a single leg 184, extending from thefirst end 178. The single leg 184 is oriented substantially parallel tothe longitudinal axis A of the battery cell 110. The single leg 184forms an end loop 188 at a second end. The end loop 188 lies in a planethat is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of thebattery cell 110. The end loop 188 also lies below the plane of thecontact surface of the negative terminal 124. In this manner, the endloop 188 does not interfere with an electronic device making contactwith the negative terminal 124. The end loop 188 is sized and shaped tofit around the negative terminal 124 of the battery cell 110. As aresult, the flexible wire 162 forms a negative electrical pathway fromthe negative battery terminal 124 to the negative terminal 180 on thePCB 142. Moreover, the flexible wire 162 may be formed to produce aspring force that biases the flexible wire 162 into the attachedposition illustrated in FIG. 6, while allowing the flexible wire 162 tobe temporarily deformed by a user to remove the reusable batteryindicator 140 from the battery cell 110 when desired.

In some embodiments, one or more of the first flexible wire 160 and thesecond flexible wire 162 may include a conductive magnet, or the one ormore of the first flexible wire 160 and the second flexible wire 162 maybe formed from conductive magnetic material, to provide additionalretention force between the first flexible wire 160 and the positiveterminal 126 and between the second flexible wire 162 and the negativeterminal 124.

In other embodiments, one or more of the first flexible wire 160 and thesecond flexible wire 162 may be formed as a Kelvin connection, includingseparate power and sensing terminals, to measure impedance.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, similar elements arenumbered exactly 200 greater than elements numbered in FIGS. 1-4. Forexample, the battery cell is numbered 10 in FIGS. 1-4 and the batterycell is numbered 210 in FIGS. 7A and 7B. Unless stated otherwise, anyelement from any illustrated embodiment may be incorporated into anyother illustrated embodiment.

Turning now to FIGS. 7A and 7B, a fourth embodiment of the reusablebattery indicator 240 is attached to a battery cell 210. The reusablebattery indicator 240 includes a PCB 242, a first connector 244, and asecond connector 246. While the battery cell 210 in FIGS. 6A and 6B isillustrated as a AA size battery, the illustration is not intended tolimit the reusable battery indicator 240 to the illustrated battery cell210. Rather, the reusable battery indicator 240 may be sized and shapedto fit virtually any battery cell, especially those battery cell sizeslisted elsewhere in the specification.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the first connector244 and the second connector 246 comprise leaf springs 260, 262,respectively. The leaf springs 260, 262 may be formed as planar legsthat capture the positive battery terminal 226 and the negative batteryterminal 224, respectively, to transmit electrical characteristics, suchas voltage and amperes, to the integrated circuit formed on the PCB 142.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the leaf spring 260includes a first end 266, which is connected to a positive terminal 268on the PCB 242. The leaf spring 260 includes a first leg 272, extendingfrom the first end 266. The first leg 272 is substantially planar (orvery slightly curved to mirror the curvature of the outer surface of thebattery cell 210) and is oriented substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the battery cell 210. The first leg 272 turnsapproximately 90° near a second end 273, forming an end clip 276. Theend clip 276 lies in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the battery cell 210. The end clip 276 includes aconcave end that is curved to mirror an outer cylindrical surface of thepositive terminal 226 of the battery cell 210. As a result, the leafspring 260 forms a positive electrical pathway from the positive batteryterminal 226 to the positive terminal 268 on the PCB 242. Moreover, theleaf spring 260 may be formed to produce a spring force that biases theleaf spring 260 into the attached position illustrated in FIGS. 7A and7B, while allowing the leaf spring 260 to be temporarily deformed by auser to remove the reusable battery indicator 240 from the battery cell210 when desired.

Similar to the leaf spring 260, the leaf spring 262 includes a first end278, which is connected to a negative terminal 280 on the PCB 242. Theleaf spring 262 includes a first leg 284, extending from the first end278. The first leg 284 is substantially planar (or very slightly curvedto mirror the curvature of the outer surface of the battery cell 210)and is oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of thebattery cell 210. The first leg 284 turns approximately 90° near asecond end 285, forming an end clip 288. The end clip 288 lies in aplane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofthe battery cell 210. The end clip 288 includes a concave end that iscurved to mirror an outer cylindrical surface of the negative terminal224 of the battery cell 210. As a result, the leaf spring 262 forms anegative electrical pathway from the negative battery terminal 224 tothe negative terminal 280 on the PCB 242. Moreover, the leaf spring 262may be formed to produce a spring force that biases the leaf spring 262into the attached position illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, whileallowing the leaf spring 262 to be temporarily deformed by a user toremove the reusable battery indicator 240 from the battery cell 210 whendesired.

The approximately 90° bends between the first leg 272 of the first leafspring 260 and the end loop 276 and between the first leg 184 of thesecond leaf spring 262 and the end loop 288, create an axial force,which maintains the reusable battery indicator 240 in electricalconnection with the battery cell 210.

In some embodiments, one or more of the first leaf spring 260 and thesecond leaf spring 262 may be integrated into the positive terminal 268and the negative terminal 280, respectively, of the PCB 242 as one layerof a multi-layered PCB 242.

In some embodiments, the reusable battery indicator 240 may also includea retention clip 291 that extends from the reusable battery indicator240 in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofthe battery cell 210. The retention clip 291 may include two opposinglegs that are curved to mirror the curvature of the outer surface of thebattery cell 210. The retention clip 291 provides additional retentionforce to retain the reusable battery indicator 240 on the battery cell210.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 9, similar elementsare numbered exactly 300 greater than elements numbered in FIGS. 1-4.For example, the battery cell is numbered 10 in FIGS. 1-4 and thebattery cell is numbered 310 in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 9. Unless statedotherwise, any element from any illustrated embodiment may beincorporated into any other illustrated embodiment.

Turning now to FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 9, a fifth embodiment of the reusablebattery indicator 340 is attached to a battery cell 310. The reusablebattery indicator 340 includes a PCB 342, a first connector 344, and asecond connector 346. While the battery cell 210 in FIGS. 8A and 8B isillustrated as a AA size battery, the illustration is not intended tolimit the reusable battery indicator 340 to the illustrated battery cell310. Rather, the reusable battery indicator 340 may be sized and shapedto fit virtually any battery cell, especially those battery cell sizeslisted elsewhere in the specification.

Similar to the previous embodiment, in the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 8A, 8B, and 9, the first connector 344 and the second connector346 comprise first and second leaf springs 360, 362, respectively. Thefirst and second leaf springs 360, 362 are similar to the first andsecond leaf springs 260, 262 of FIGS. 7A and 7B, with the followingexceptions.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 9, the first leafspring 360 includes a retention clip 391 that extends in a plane that issubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the battery cell310. In other embodiments, the second leaf spring 362 may include asimilar retention clip. The retention clip 391 may include two opposinglegs that are curved to mirror the curvature of the outer surface of thebattery cell 310. The retention clip 391 provides additional retentionforce to retain the reusable battery indicator 340 on the battery cell310.

Instead of including an end clip, the second leaf spring 346 includes anend loop 388. The end loop 388 lies in a plane that is substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the battery cell 310. The endloop 388 includes an inner opening 392 that is sized and shaped tomirror an outer cylindrical surface of the negative battery terminal324. As a result, the second leaf spring 362 forms a negative electricalpathway from the negative battery terminal 324 to the negative terminalon the PCB 342.

In some embodiments, the end loop 388 may include a disc-shaped voltagesensor that is arranged to fit one end of the cylindrical battery cell310.

Turning specifically now to FIG. 9, the end loop 388 may include aradial collar 394 that extends away from the end loop 388, towards thePCB 342. The radial collar 394 is sized and shaped to fit within anegative cap recess 396. The radial collar 394 provides negativeterminal location and contact force, in addition to the end loop 388.

In other embodiments, a similar end loop with a radial collar may beformed in the first leaf spring for contact at the positive batteryterminal. In such embodiments, the radial collar may provide additionalclearance at the positive battery terminal where a reverse polarityinsertion guard exists.

The end loop 388 and radial collar 394 cooperate with battery cellshaving a negative cap/positive crimp groove.

Turning now to FIG. 10, a sixth embodiment of a reusable batteryindicator 440 is illustrated. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the reusablebattery indicator includes a housing 498, the integrated circuit, thevoltage sensor, and the communication circuit being mounted within thehousing 498. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the housing 498 is sized andshaped to fit between two cylindrical battery cells 410 that arearranged longitudinally side-by-side. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 10, the housing 498 has a cross-section that is in the shape of atriangular prism. More specifically, the housing 498 has a first side497 that is concave and a second side 499 that is concave. In otherembodiments, the housing 498 may have a shape such as rectangular,trapezoid, elliptical, semi-circular, and variable, that fits within thevoid described by the triangular prism. In the embodiment of FIG. 10,the reusable battery indicator 440 is mounted between the battery cells410 and within a battery receptacle 495 of an electronic device 500.

Turning now to FIG. 11, a seventh embodiment of a reusable batteryindicator 540 is illustrated and located between two battery cells 510.In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the reusable battery indicator 540includes a housing 598 that has only a single concave side.

FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative housing shape. In this embodiment,the housing 698 is arranged to fit in the void formed by two cylindricalbattery cells 610 that are arranged side by side and oriented such thatthe respective longitudinal axes of the battery cells 610 are parallelto one another. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12, the housing698 has a cross-sectional shape that is defined by the followingequation:

A _(v)=(D _(B) ²−Π/4×D _(B) ²)/2, where

A_(v) is the cross-sectional area of the housing 698; and

D_(B) is a diameter of one battery cell 610.

A housing having a cross-sectional shape defined by the precedingequation maximizes the usable space between the battery cells. Forexample, a housing having the cross-sectional shape defined above wouldresult in the following housing volumes for the given battery sizes(assuming that the housing length was equal to the battery cell length).For a AAA battery, the housing would have a volume of 526 mm³; and for aAA battery, the housing would have a volume of 1140 mm³.

Turning now to FIG. 13, a computing device 800 is communicativelyconnected to the communication circuit in the reusable battery indicator740. The computing device receives information from the communicationcircuit through wireless signals sent by the antenna in the reusablebattery indicator 740. For example, the wireless signal may be one ormore of a wifi signal, a Bluetooth® signal, a RFID signal, or any otherwireless signal. In other embodiments, the computing device 800 and thereusable battery indicator 740 may communicatively connected by a wiredconnection.

The computing device 800 includes a processor 802 and a memory 804. Thememory 804 may store processor executable instructions that whenexecuted by the processor 802 cause the processor 802 to detect awireless communication signal from the reusable battery indicator 740.In some embodiments the memory 804 may comprise a non-transitorycomputer readable medium with the processor executable instructionsembedded thereon as an article of manufacture. The processor executableinstructions may also cause the processor 802 to send wireless signalsback to the reusable battery indicator 740 to remotely control batterycircuitry through the reusable battery indicator 740. In this manner,the processor 802 may cause the reusable battery indicator 740 todetermine battery characteristic data; and to send the batterycharacteristic data to a user interface, such as a display 806 on thecomputing device 800.

In some embodiments, the battery characteristic data may comprise atleast one of an electrical capacity; a voltage; an impedance, atemperature, a current; an age, a charge/discharge cycle count, and acoulomb count.

In other embodiments, the processor executable instructions, whenexecuted by the processor 802, causes the processor 802 to determine atleast one of a battery type, a physical location of the battery, and anelectrical device that the battery is powering by communicating with thereusable battery indicator 740.

Turning now to FIGS. 14A and 14B, yet another embodiment of a reusablebattery indicator 940 is illustrated. The reusable battery indicator 940includes a first connector 944 and a second connector 946. The firstconnector 944 connects to the negative terminal 924 of the battery 910and the second connector 946 connects to the positive terminal of thebattery 910. The first connector 944 includes an insulated leg 905 withan embedded wire 907. The insulated leg 905 includes an inner portion909 that prevents the embedded wirer 907 from making contact with thecrimped wall 961 of the battery housing 918. However, the embedded wire907 is exposed at a radially inward end of the insulated leg 905 so thatthe embedded wire 907 may make electrical contact with the negativeterminal 924, thus completing the electrical connection.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood asbeing strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead,unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean boththe recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding thatvalue. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean“about 40 mm.”

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or relatedpatent or application and any patent application or patent to which thisapplication claims priority or benefit thereof, is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded orotherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission thatit is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimedherein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other referenceor references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention.Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in thisdocument conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in adocument incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assignedto that term in this document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in theart that various other changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to cover in the appended claims all such changes andmodifications that are within the scope of this invention.

1. A reusable battery indicator comprising: a voltage sensor configuredto convert sensed analog characteristics of a battery to digitalinformation; a communication circuit communicatively connected to thevoltage sensor; an antenna operatively coupled to the communicationcircuit; and a connection mechanism having at least a first connectorand a second connector that are electrically connected to the voltagesensor, the first connector and the second connector being adapted to beremovably connected to a first battery terminal and to a second batteryterminal, respectively, thereby completing an electrical circuit betweenthe voltage sensor and the first and second battery terminals when theconnection mechanism is coupled to the first battery terminal and to thesecond battery terminal, wherein the first connector comprises a firstmagnet and the second connector comprises a second magnet.
 2. Thereusable battery indicator of claim 1, further comprising a voltagebooster electrically connected to the voltage sensor.
 3. The reusablebattery indicator of claim 1, wherein at least one of the firstconnector and the second connector further comprises a cup.
 4. Thereusable battery indicator of claim 1, wherein at least one of the firstconnector and the second connector comprises at least one metal and atleast one insulator.
 5. The reusable battery indicator of claim 1,wherein at least one of the first connector and the second connectorcomprises at least one of a metal, a metal alloy, cold-rolled steel,hard drawn ferrous and non-ferrous alloys, high and low carbon steelalloys, post or pre-plated ferrous and non-ferrous alloys, or anycombination thereof.
 6. The reusable battery indicator of claim 1,wherein the communication circuit comprises Wi-Fi circuitry.
 7. Thereusable battery indicator of claim 1, wherein the voltage sensor iscapable of reading an open circuit voltage of less than 1.8 Volts. 8.The reusable battery indicator of claim 1, wherein the voltage sensorand the communication circuit are formed on a printed circuit board thatis adapted to be inserted between the first connector and the secondconnector.
 9. (canceled)
 10. The reusable battery indicator of claim 1,wherein the first connector and the second connector comprise conductivemagnets.
 11. The reusable battery indicator of claim 1, furthercomprising a housing, the voltage sensor, and the communication circuitbeing mounted within the housing, the housing being sized and shaped tofit between two cylindrical batteries that are arranged longitudinallyside-by-side.
 12. The reusable battery indicator of claim 11, whereinthe housing has a cross-section that is in the shape of a triangularprism.
 13. The reusable battery indicator of claim 12, wherein thehousing has one side that is concave.
 14. The reusable battery indicatorof claim 12, wherein the housing has two sides that are concave. 15.(canceled)
 16. The reusable battery indicator of claim 15, wherein thevoltage sensor is one of a thin disc BLE, UHF, or RF module.
 17. Anelectronic device comprising the reusable battery indicator of claim 1,wherein a housing of the reusable battery indicator is mounted within abattery receptacle of an electronic device.
 18. A remote batteryindication system, the system comprising: a battery; and a reusablebattery indicator, the battery indicator including a voltage sensor thatconverts sensed analog characteristics of a battery to digitalinformation; a communication circuit communicatively connected to thevoltage sensor; an antenna operatively coupled to the communicationcircuit; and a connection mechanism having at least a first connectorand a second connector that are electrically connected to the voltagesensor, the first connector and the second connector being adapted to beremovably connected to a first battery terminal and to a second batteryterminal, respectively, thereby completing an electrical circuit betweenthe voltage sensor and the first and second battery terminals when theconnection mechanism is coupled to the first battery terminal and to thesecond battery terminal, wherein the first connector comprises a firstmagnet and the second connector comprises a second magnet, and the firstconnector and the second connector are electrically attached to a firstbattery terminal and a second battery terminal, respectively, so thatthe voltage sensor senses a characteristic of the battery.
 19. Thesystem of claim 18, further comprising a computing device that iscommunicatively connected to the communication circuit, the computingdevice receiving information from the communication circuit through theantenna.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the computing deviceincludes a processor and a memory, the memory storing a software routinethat causes the processor to detect a wireless communication signal fromthe reusable battery indicator, to remotely control battery circuitrythrough the reusable battery indicator to determine batterycharacteristic data; and to send the battery characteristic data to auser interface.
 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the batterycharacteristic data comprises at least one of an electrical capacity; avoltage; an impedance, a temperature, a current; an age, acharge/discharge cycle count, and a coulomb count.
 22. The system ofclaim 20, wherein the software routine, when executed by the processor,causes the processor to determine at least one of a battery type, aphysical location of the battery, and an electrical device that thebattery is powering.
 23. The reusable battery indicator of claim 1,wherein the first magnet provides retention force between the firstconnector and the first battery terminal and the second magnet providesretention force between the second connector and the second batteryterminal.